List of the oldest buildings in Wisconsin facts for kids

This article is about some of the oldest buildings in Wisconsin. These buildings are still standing today and help us understand what life was like a long time ago. Some of their ages are guesses based on how they were built or old records. Others are known more exactly by studying the wood used to build them.

To be on this list, a building usually had to be built before 1840. Sometimes, a building is included if it's the oldest of its kind in a certain area, like the oldest church or the oldest building in a county.

Old Buildings in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has many historic buildings that tell stories of its past. Let's explore some of them!

Homes and Cabins

Many of the oldest buildings were homes, often built by early settlers, fur traders, or miners.

Tank Cottage

The Tank Cottage is possibly the oldest building still standing in Wisconsin. It was built between 1776 and 1803 by Joseph Roi, a French-Canadian fur trader called a voyageur. He used a special building method called pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse, which means "piece-on-piece with grooves." This was common in French-Canadian areas. The cottage was first in Green Bay near the Fox River. In 1976, it was moved to Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Allouez to be preserved.

Fur Trade Cabin

Another old home at Heritage Hill State Historical Park is the Fur Trade Cabin, built around 1800-1810. French-Canadian fur traders also built this cabin in Green Bay using the same pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse method. It was found as part of a larger house that was going to be torn down for a bridge. Luckily, it was saved and moved to the park in 1975.

Strange Powers House

In Prairie du Chien, the Strange Powers House was built between 1800 and 1820. It also uses the pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse style. We don't know the exact year it was built. When explorer Zebulon Pike visited in 1805, he saw many similar houses. It might have been one of them, or it might have been built by an early settler named Strange Powers, who bought the land in 1818.

Francois Vertefeuille House

The Francois Vertefeuille House in Prairie du Chien was built by French-Canadian fur traders between 1810 and 1820. It also features the pièce-sur-pièce à coulisse construction.

Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters

The Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters in Portage was built between 1818 and 1828. It was first the home of a French-Canadian fur trader, Francois LeRoi. The U.S. Army bought it in 1828 and used it as part of Fort Winnebago.

Dodge Mining Camp Cabin

The Dodge Mining Camp Cabin in Dodgeville was built in 1827. It's the last building left from a lead mining camp started by Henry Dodge. He later became the first governor of the Wisconsin Territory and then a U.S. Senator. Lead mining was a very important industry in early Wisconsin.

Cornish Miner Cottages

Several old homes in Mineral Point were built by Cornish miners, who came from Cornwall, England, to work in the lead mines.

• 18F Shake Rag Street (around 1828) is a residential home.
• Mark Ingraham House, 28 Shake Rag Street (around 1830) is a one-story limestone cabin.
• John Harris Cottage (around 1835) is another one-story cabin.
• Pendarvis House and Trelawny House (around 1835) are limestone cabins that are now part of the Pendarvis Historic Site.
• Polperro House (around 1835) is a 2.5-story cabin with a limestone first floor and wood upper stories, also part of the Pendarvis Historic Site.
• 209 Commerce Street cottage (1838–1839) is a two-story limestone cabin.

These buildings show the unique building style of the Cornish miners.

Prairie Spring Hotel

The Prairie Spring Hotel in Willow Springs was built in 1834 by Daniel Morgan Parkinson. Its style is like the simple, local buildings found in the southeastern U.S. in the early 1800s. It was an inn for travelers on the road between Galena, Illinois and Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Later, it became the Parkinson family's home.

Cothren House

The Cothren House (around 1835) is a 1.5-story wooden cabin. It was originally in Blue River but was moved to Mineral Point in the 1970s.

Gratiot House

The Gratiot House in Shullsburg was built in 1835 by Henry Gratiot, a businessman and Indian agent. It's built in a simple, local version of the Georgian style. This house is the last building left from Gratiot's Grove, a lead mining town that was busy in the 1820s and 1830s.

Henry Merrell House

The Henry Merrell House in Portage was built between 1835 and 1839. It was the home of Henry Merrell (or Merrill), who was a supplier and postmaster for Fort Winnebago. It's built in the Greek Revival style, which was popular at the time.

Bendickson Cabin

The Bendickson cabin in Wind Lake was built in 1837 by Halvor Bendickson, an immigrant from Norway. It's one of the oldest buildings in Racine County and is now part of Heg Memorial Park, which preserves buildings from early Norwegian settlers.

Brisbois House

The Brisbois House in Prairie du Chien was built around 1837. This two-and-a-half-story building is a rare example of the Federal style of architecture from when Wisconsin was a territory. Some old stories said it was built much earlier, but experts in 1984 found that its style fits the late 1830s and early 1840s better.

Hazelwood

Hazelwood in Green Bay was built in 1837. It was the home of Morgan Lewis Martin, an important early Wisconsin politician who helped write the Constitution of Wisconsin. Today, it's a museum run by the Brown County Historical Association.

Mill House

The Mill House in Sheboygan Falls was built in 1837. This two-story wooden building in the Greek Revival style was built by the Rochester Lumber Company. It was a boarding house for workers and also an inn for new settlers. It's part of the Cole Historic District.

Mitchell-Rountree House

The Mitchell-Rountree House in Platteville was built in 1837. This 1.5-story cottage was made from carefully cut dolomite rock for Rev. Samuel Mitchell, who fought in the Revolutionary War. John Rountree, who founded Platteville and married Mitchell's daughter, likely built the house.

St. Germain dit Gauthier House

The St. Germain dit Gauthier House in Prairie du Chien was built between 1837 and 1840 by French-Canadian immigrants. The City of Prairie du Chien now owns it.

Joseph Goodrich Log Cabin

The Joseph Goodrich Log Cabin in Milton was built in 1838. In 1844, Joseph Goodrich built the Milton House hotel nearby and connected the two buildings with an underground tunnel. This site was a "safe house" on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved African-Americans escape to freedom. They used the tunnel to hide. Today, the cabin is part of the Milton House museum.

Gredler-Gramins House

The Gredler-Gramins House in Brookfield started as a fieldstone house built by Benjamin Carpenter in 1839. In 1850, John Gredler added a two-story brick front in the Greek Revival style, making it a "saltbox" shape (like a house with a long, sloping roof on one side).

Isham Day House

The Isham Day House in Mequon was built in 1839 by Isham Day. It's one of the oldest buildings in Ozaukee County. Its construction is unusual, with vertical wooden timbers and bricks filling the spaces.

Hickory Hill House

The Hickory Hill House in Madison was built in 1842. It might be the oldest building still standing in Madison. John G. Hicks, a farmer from New York, built it using local sandstone.

Benjamin Church House

The Benjamin Church House is the oldest house still standing in Milwaukee County. It was built between 1843 and 1844. It was first located on 4th Street in Downtown Milwaukee but was moved to Estabrook Park in 1939 to save it.

Military and Government Buildings

Many early buildings were part of forts or served as government offices.

Fort Howard Officers' Quarters

The Fort Howard Officers' Quarters is one of the buildings from Fort Howard in Green Bay. The U.S. Army built it in the Federal style between 1816-1817 or 1831-1835. Soldiers were stationed at the fort until 1852. This building was moved to Heritage Hill State Historical Park in 1975.

Fort Howard Hospital

The Fort Howard Hospital is another building from Fort Howard in Green Bay. The U.S. Army built it in the Federal style between 1816-1817 or 1834-1835. It was also moved to Heritage Hill State Historical Park in 1975.

Fort Howard Hospital Ward

The Fort Howard Hospital Ward was part of the Fort Howard Hospital. It was built in the Federal style by the U.S. Army between 1816-1817 or 1834-1835. It was also moved to Heritage Hill State Historical Park in 1975.

Old Indian Agency House

The Old Indian Agency House in Portage was built in 1832. It was the home of John H. Kinzie, who worked as an Indian Sub-agent for the Ho-Chunk people.

Fort Howard Guard House

The Fort Howard Guard House in Green Bay was built between 1833 and 1835. The bottom floor of this building was the fort's sally port (a controlled entrance) and prison. The top floor held the commanding officer's office and the fort library. After the army left, it was a private home until 2009 when it was moved to Heritage Hill State Park.

Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital

The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital in Prairie du Chien was built by Colonel Zachary Taylor (who later became a U.S. President) between 1829 and 1835. The original Fort Crawford was built after the War of 1812. After a conflict in 1827, the army built a larger fort. This hospital was separate from the main fort and is the only building from that time that is still standing.

Denniston House

The Denniston House in Cassville was built in 1836. When the Wisconsin Territorial legislature was choosing a state capital, this building was designed to hold the Supreme Court, hoping Cassville would be chosen. But Cassville wasn't picked, so the building was empty for 18 years. In 1854, Nelson Dewey (who became Wisconsin's first governor) bought it and opened it as a hotel.

First Capitol Historic Site

The First Capitol Historic Site in Belmont was built in 1836. The legislature of the Wisconsin Territory had its very first meeting here on October 25, 1836. They spent most of their time deciding where the new capital should be. After that first session, they never met in this building again. The buildings were later used as homes and even barns.

Businesses and Other Structures

Some of the oldest buildings were used for trade, meetings, or education.

Astor Fur Warehouse

The Astor Fur Warehouse in Prairie du Chien was built in 1828 by Jean Joseph Rolette, who worked for the American Fur Company. This warehouse is a very important historical site and is the only fur trade warehouse known to still exist in the upper Mississippi valley.

Baird Law Office

The Baird Law Office is a Greek Revival style building built in 1831 or 1835 by Samuel Wooten Beall in Green Bay. It was the law office of Henry S. Baird from 1841 to 1865. In 1975, it was moved to Heritage Hill State Historical Park.

American Fur Company post

The American Fur Company post on Madeline Island in La Pointe was built in 1835. In the early 1800s, the American Fur Company had a trading post here. A small warehouse from that time is still standing and is now part of the Madeline Island Museum.

Walker House

The Walker House in Mineral Point was built in 1836. It's the oldest hotel in Mineral Point. It was built in three parts, with the first part finished in 1836 and the last in 1860. It's part of the Mineral Point Historic District.

Pottawatomie Lighthouse privy

The Pottawatomie Lighthouse privy (an outhouse) on Rock Island was built in 1836. It's the oldest known building in Door County and was part of the original Pottawatomie Lighthouse.

Odd Fellows Hall

The Odd Fellows Hall in Mineral Point was built in 1839. This wooden building in the Greek Revival style was a meeting place for a group called the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It's still used by them today and is thought to be the oldest chapter west of the Allegheny Mountains. It's part of the Mineral Point Historic District.

St. Peter's Catholic Church

St. Peter's Catholic Church was built in 1839. It was the first Catholic Church in Milwaukee, originally called St. Luke's. It was moved to the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary around 1940, and later moved again to the Old World Wisconsin open-air museum in Eagle.

Blue house

The Blue house in Nashotah was built in 1842. It was the very first building of the Nashotah House Episcopal seminary (a school for religious leaders). A missionary named James Lloyd Breck and his followers built it. The Chapel of St. Sylvanus, next to it, was built in 1843.

Middle College

Middle College on the Beloit College campus in Beloit was built in 1847. It was the first building constructed there and is the oldest academic building (school building) still in use in Wisconsin. It now holds the college's offices.

North Hall

North Hall at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was built in 1851. It is the oldest building still standing at the university.

Pottawatomie Light

The Pottawatomie Light on Rock Island was built in 1858. It is the oldest lighthouse still standing in Wisconsin. It replaced an older lighthouse from 1836.

Gates of Heaven Synagogue

The Gates of Heaven Synagogue in Madison was built in 1863. It is the oldest synagogue (Jewish house of worship) still standing in Wisconsin and the eighth-oldest synagogue building in the United States.

Unity Chapel

Unity Chapel in Wyoming was built in 1886. It is one of the earliest architectural works connected to the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was designed by Joseph Lyman Silsbee's office, and Wright designed the inside.

Images for kids

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  John Harris Cottage

See also

• List of lighthouses in Wisconsin
• List of the oldest buildings in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wisconsin